Wednesday, 30th June 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
What is the purpose of the Bible? The. Bible contains the Word of God – Torah – the Tree of Life, which bears the fruits of “humble and obey” and “deny ourselves and benefit others”. We need to bear these fruits together, in order to really live under the Tree of Life.
Section One V1-12: Be Blessed by Receiving Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We must know God rules and reigns, do not be our own judge or other people’s judges. When we judge others we will be easily tempted and fall into a grey area. We should not be jealous of the evil men or follow their ways, even if we don’t associate with them, if we learn from them then we fall into Satan’s schemes.
In everything we should seek God and rely on Him, not on the things or ways of this world. In everything we should put in prayers and petitions to God, then He will provide us with all we need. God’s Word is the lamp of our feet, light of our path, it’s not like a spotlight, which shines all our surroundings, but it’s more like a small candle light. Not everything will be revealed straightaway, but bit by bit, God will show us the way, so we will continue to learn from His Word, to seek Him and to experience Him.
God also gives us spiritual authority to teach us and direct our ways. Husband and wife should not be teaching each other, because both of them should be under a spiritual authority, who will teach them and guide them. Instead, the husband should love his wife and the wife should be the helper of her husband. It’s not about seeing what others are not doing good enough, and it’s not about being each other’s judges, but it’s about praying for one another and striving to build up personal intimate relationship with God. Then both husband and wife should follow the guidance and receive teaching from the authority God has given to us.
People tend to have a poverty mindset, we want to earn lots of money and place our security in our finance. What does it mean by being rich? It’s to be never lacking, when we are willing to be planted by the streams of water and to bear fruits in season, then God will provide for us and we will always have enough to live on. We must learn to count the blessings from God. No matter how much we have on this world, if we don’t have peace from God then we have nothing. God’s purpose for us is to multiply and subdue the earth, to teach and disciple those, who follow us, and let our lives be built upon the Rock – Jesus Christ.
Everything we learn from school is in the past tense, we learn knowledge from researches many years ago, only the Word of God is always in present tense. All knowledge of the world is not as reliable as the wisdom from God. When we follow the Word of God then we will not be afraid. Because when we are afraid we will then take the wrong path. Instead, when we face problems we should proclaim that God will rule and reign, He will open the way for us.
Section Two V13-22: Be Blessed by the Fear of the Lord
Our mind are often at work, asking questions, doubting, wondering, thinking, but our heart is still the same, we still did not put the Word of God into our hearts. Hear the Word then act it out, don’t let God’s Word become just another knowledge for us. We must put what we learn into our heart, let our lives change and then people will want to draw near to us. Be honest to ourselves, humble our hearts, and lift God up in every aspect of our lives. Let knowledge become our life not just in our mind and head.
Everything we have is from God, we should not hold too tightly of the things we have: money, house, car, job… everything is from God, He gives and He takes away. We should hold onto God and believe He will not put His servant to shame. God provides for us, we need to do our parts, by prayers and petitions, stand in the Word of God, and walk in the path of God. He will take care of everything else for us!
Section Three V24-34: Be Blessed by Possessing the Wisdom
We need to speak the truth, do not try to package our words to please others, but let our lives be filled with God’s blessings. Our lacking in life is not God’s Will, but the fruits we bear. Seek wisdom, possess wisdom, let the words in our mouth and thoughts in the hearts be fully surrender to God! This morning, give our fears to God and let God take away all our fears!
Prayer & Pursuit
Lord, help us not to hold onto what we have, which are the things on the earth that seem to make us secure. Let us hold onto Your promises and the Word You have taught us. Let us follow You closely, no matter how many times we failed, we want to continue to follow You. Bless us, the old has gone and the new is here. We rebuke all fears of the future and lacking in the Name of Jesus. Let our hearts of the fear of lacking leave us, and be filled with faith in the Word of God. We believe You will provide abundantly all that we need. Amen.
2021年6月30日 星期三
-潘锡安牧师-
箴言 24
蒙福的生命
神的话语就是生命树，我们能够结出生命树的果子的前提是“谦卑顺服，舍己利他”，而我们的主耶稣基督在世上给我们做了最好的榜样。我们若从生命树的眼光来看箴言24章，就会有不一样的领受。
一、v.1-12 要凭智慧
V1-2 有时我们看到某些“恶人”，会对他们看似蒙福的生活愤愤不平，因为我们心里批评论断那些人，觉得他们不够好，结果我们反而去学那些人不合圣经的“成功”的方式。真正的智慧是从敬畏耶和华而来，我们若能凡事祷告祈求，神会给我们智慧、能力去处理生活中的大小事务。所以我们不要去学效那些不跟随神、不走在神真理里的恶人，不学他们走捷径，而是花时间在神的话语上，让神的话语成为我们脚前的灯、路上的光，一步一步跟随神的带领。我们要谦卑接受神借着我们的牧者在神话语上对我们的教导，不要倚靠自己或周围的人。丈夫和妻子之间不要取代属灵权柄去教导对方，要自己先亲近神，多为对方祷告，并一同接受牧者的教导，唯有站对位置，才能经历蒙福的生命。
V3-5 智慧是从敬畏耶和华来，聪明从明白神的话语而来，如此我们才能在耶稣基督的真理上站稳。敬畏神的人有真智慧，就大有能力，神就会供应我们一无所缺，居上不居下、居首不居尾。我们不要有一个贫穷的心态，只想要靠赚来的钱给自己带来安全感。我们要懂得感恩神给我们的祝福，安心立命跟从神，因为单单明白神的话，我们就拥有“各样美好宝贵的财物”了。真正的平安就是从神而来。
V6 智谋是单单倚靠耶和华，将基础建立在基督真理的磐石上。约书亚在攻打耶利哥城之前知道自己有神的帮助便能得胜。我们要有从神而来的平安才能有能力。“谋士”就是有智慧的人，而人要有智慧，就需要在神的话语上被教导。
V7 “城门内”是判断是非的地方，愚昧人不敢在此开口，因为他们没有从神而来的智慧，只有过去的知识或经历，说出来的话就显出自己的愚昧。世上的知识会过时，唯有神的话永不改变。我们只要跟着神走，就不用害怕。
V10 我们会跌倒，是因为自己会害怕。我们若遇到问题，就要祷告，相信神会开路。
V11 -12 当我们看见别人有问题时，要凭着敬畏神的心来帮助他们，对于自己不明白的事我们就要祷告寻问神。若神将人带到我们面前，我们就要谦卑顺服、舍己利他，不管那个人听不听我们的话，只要我们自己多亲近神，有从神而来的生命，我们才能在别人的生命上带来帮助。。
二、v.13-22 要敬畏耶和华
V13,21 “我儿”在这一段出现了两次。
V14 我们如何分辨心和头脑？我们的头脑会问很多问题，唯有听道行道才能有真正的生命。若有从神而来的智慧，“至终必有善报，你的指望也不致断绝。”
V15 我们害怕，是因为我们没有智慧、没有跟从神，若我们真有从神而来的智慧，恶人就攻击不了我们的家。
V16 “七”在圣经里面表示完全的意思。就算义人完全的跌倒，他们也还是会被神兴起。哪怕我们经历破产，也要相信神有能力给我们更大的祝福。不要在自己跌倒的地方成为怨妇，而是宣告、赞美神良善的属性。我们来到这个世界的时候本来就是什么都没有，所以我们也不害怕“失去”，我们若信靠神，神就不会让我们羞愧。
V17 -18 “仇敌”就是那些对我们不好的人。他们遭难，我们不要开心，因为我们的神是怜悯的神，我们要学习基督的心，要爱人如己，为人代祷，要看到其实我们也曾经是那些“恶人”中的一个。
V21 在世上没有权柄不是从神而来，当我们看到权柄不对的地方，要为他们祷告，而不是批评论断，这才是真正“敬畏耶和华与君王”。“反复无常的人”行事没有准绳，他们的灾难会“忽然而起”，他们的言行很容易影响我们，让我们跌倒，所以我们不要跟他们结交（交心）。
三、v.23-34 要有智慧
V23-24 我们要抓紧智慧，让智慧成为我们的准绳。我们若看见人做不对的事，不要为了得人的喜悦而去说奉承的话。
V30-34 我们不要让我们的生命长满荆棘，而要使之充满祝福，因为我们种什么就得什么。求神帮助我们让智慧成为我们的准绳，心口一致，生命中经历神的祝福。
*追求祷告：
让我们为着我们生命中的惧怕祷告。我们惧怕生命中的贫穷，不想活在没有可以抓得住的保障的生活里。求神帮助我们拿去里面的恐惧，不让恐惧影响我们对神的信心。神愿意拿走，我们愿意放手吗？让我们愿意将里面的恐惧完全放手交给神。
谢谢主除去我们心里的惧怕。当我们愿意放手交托时，主你就保守我们不受恶者的攻击，我们就算跌倒也会被你兴起。求神帮助我们谦卑领受牧者的教导，继续跟随你走这条蒙福的路。祝福我们每一个人旧事已过，都变成新的了。我们 里面一切对贫穷、未来、儿女等的惧怕都要离去，神的富足临到，贫穷的心离开，让我们对神的充满信心，相信神会给我们充足的供应。谢谢主对我们的建造！奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！